Christmas tree holder



Oct. 28, 1952 J. HAUMANN CHRISTMAS TREE HOLDER Filed March 8, 1947 Patented Oct. 28, 1952 f Joseph Haumann', Chicago, Ill., assigner to` HenryA Hildebrandt.. Chiclzojalll.

Application March 8, 1947,. S'erialfNo. '733.2841

4r Clith'nt.

This invention rebatesv to Christmas tree holders.

The principal object cf this invention is to provide an improved Christmas treev holder wherein the tree is automatically centered and held upright, wherein the tree may be4 watered, wherein few parts are utilized for accomplishing these results, wherein the holder may' be inexpensively and readily manufactured, and wherein certain ornamental characteristics 'are' provided.

In ac'cordance with this object of the invention, the Christmas tree holder may include: a container substantially triangular in cross section adapted to contain water, gripping levers in the container and pivoted intermediate their ends to the corners of the triangular container and a conical member in the container between the gripping levers and g'uidedby' the side walls ofthe container for receiving the end of the tree and engaging' the lower ends of' the gripping levers for forcing the upper ends thereof into engagement with the trunk of the tree. A spring may also be utilized for.v urging. the conical member upwardly. The container may also be prof vided with hollow supporting legs provided `with ornamental openings, and lights inthe legs may illuminate the openings.` f

Further objects of this invention reside in the details of construction of the component parts and the cooperation between the same.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the'- art upon reference to the accompanying specification, claims, and drawing in which- Figure 1 is top plan view, partly in sectioxnof the Christmas tree holder;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional View through the holder taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Figure 3 is al partial side elevational view looking from the left of Fig. 2 as indicated by the line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

The Christmas tree holder includes a container having side walls I arranged in triangular formation and a bottom wall II provided with a flange I2 for fitting over the side walls III. In the formation of the side walls III and the bottom wall II, the joints are preferably made watertight so that the container is adapted to hold water for watering the tree placed therein.

Provided at each corner of the container are brackets I3 which are generally U-shaped in cross section. The upper edges of the brackets I3 are provided with lips I4 for properly locating 2 thefbraokets Ii! in the corners of the triangular container. Each ofthe brackets I3 is adapted t0 l'l'y 8; gripping' level. |15 which alSO S gellerally U`shaped irl cross section. The 'upper end of each gripping lever I5 is iared at It'` to pron vide gripping jaws, and these gripping jawsl may be providediwith serrations- Il. The lower ends I8 ofthe gripping levers I5 are bent inwardly. Each of' the 'levers' I5 is provided intermediate its ends with holes adapted .to receive pivot pins I9 extending through corresponding 'holes in thefbracketsr i3. In thisway, the levers are pivotal'ly mounted on the brackets I3. When the bracketsv i3 are located in the corners of the triangular container with the assistanceoi'. the lips I4, they may be secured in place in the corners by spot welding, 'brazing or the like las indicat'edat 2li.V

Located in the container and between `the "levers- I5 is aconical member'22 yprovided with an opening at the bottom thereof. The opening 23' is adapted to receive ears' 24 formed on 'a plate 25 lso that the conical member 22 is secured to the plate 25. The upper end' of the conical member 22 isguided in the triangular coxitaiiierv by the side walls I0 of the container, and the lower endvr of the conical member 22 is guided by the plate 25 coasting with the side walls of' the container..` A spring 21 'is interposed between the bottom wall IfI of the container and the plate 25 for normally urging the plate 25 and hence the conical member 22 upwardly.

In assembling the Christmas tree holder, the triangular container is first formed, the spring 21 is inserted therein, and then theplate 25, conical' member 22. gripping levers I5, and the brackets i3 are inserted -in the container.v A Prior to the insertion of the brackets I3 and the gripping klevers I5. they are pivcted together'by the pivot pins I9. After the parts are thus assembled, the brackets I3 are secured to the corners of the triangular container, and the side wallsof the container operate to maintain the pivot pins I9 in place.

It will be noted from Fig. 2 that the angle of inclination of the lower ends of the gripping levers I5 is greater than the angle of inclination of the vconical member 22. Thus, as the conical member 22 is moved downwardly, the lower ends of the gripping levers I5 are moved outwardly to cause the upward ends thereof to move inwardly. Because of the difference in angular inclination, a powerful camming action on the gripping levers by the conical member is provided.

When a. Christmas tree having a trunk as indicated at 26 is inserted in the container, the end of the trunk engages in the conical member 22 and the weight of the tree moves the same downwardly against the action of the spring 2l. The conical member 22 acts against the lower ends of the gripping levers I5 to force the upper ends thereof into engagement with the trunk of the tree. The upper ends of the gripping levers l5 thus rmly grip the tree trunk and automatically center the tree and hold it upright. The heavier the tree, the greater is the force applied by the gripping levers I5. serted and held in the holder, the container may be filled with Water for watering the tree. When it is desired to remove the tree, all that isl neces- When the tree is thus in'- sary is to pull the tree out of the container, and

in so doing, the conical member 22.4 moves up.

-tainer is provided with slotted ears 30 by which hollow supporting legs 3l are secured to the container. The hollow supporting legs are preferably formed from sheet metal and are provided with inturned portions 32v to form pedestalsand inturned portions 33 for strengthening purposes. The sides of the hollow legs 3| maybe'provided with ornamental openings 34, and the sides of the legs are also provided with hooked ears 35 adapted to be received in the slotted ears 3S. In assembling the hollow legs 43l on the container, the hooked ears 35 are inserted in the slotted `ears-".13 and then the legs are pivoted upwardly about the v hooked ears 35 until the upper portions thereof engage the corners ofthe container at '39.v The., `Weight of the container and the tree carried thereby operates to hold the legs 3| in place on the container. Thus, a sturdy leg construction is provided.

The reinforcing fianges 33 may'carry clips `38 which in turn carry lights indicated at 39.,y which lights operate to illuminate the ornamental openings 34, thus adding to the ornamental characteristics of the holder.

While for purposes of illustration one Vform of;`

4 tainer for receiving the end of the tree and engaging the lower ends of the gripping levers for forcing the upper ends thereof into engagement with the trunk of the tree.

2. A Christmas tree holder comprising a container substantially triingular in cross section adapted to contain water, gripping levers in the container and pivoted intermediate their ends to the corners of the triangular container, a conical member in the container between the' gripping levers for receiving the end of the tree and engaging the lower ends of the levers for forcing the upper ends thereof into engagement with the ,trunk of the tree, the upper end of the conical member being guided by the side walls of the container, and a plate secured to the lower end of the conical member and engaging the side walls of the container for guiding the lower end of the levers and guided bythe sidewalls of the con- .conical member.

3. A Christmas tree "holder comprising a container substantially triangular` in .cross .section adapted to contain water, three gripping levers, three brackets, one for each lever, pivot pins for pivotally mounting the levers intermediate their ends to the brackets, means for securing the brackets in the corners of the triangular container with the side walls of the container holding the pivot pins in place, and a conical member in the container between the gripping levers and guided by the side walls of the container for receiving the end of the tree and engaging the lower ends of the gripping levers for forcing the upper ends vthereof into engagement with the trunk of the tree.

4. A Christmas tree holder comprising Ya container substantially triangular in cross section,

REFERENCES CITED 'I'he following references are of record inthe le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 224,624 Albrecht Feb. 17, 1880 649,785 Weinert May 15, 1900 1,117,158 Bernatz et al. Nov. 17, 1914 1,811,918 Danner June 30, 1931 1,900,807 Fegley et al. Mar. 7, 1933 Y 2,171,228 Schulz et al Aug. 29, 1939 2,297,191 Parman Sept. 29, 1942 Lorenzen Mar. l5, 1949 

